County weightlifters head to state tournament in Kissimmee

Seminole Ridge's Roman Fernandez has defied the odds all season and hopes to earn a medal in the Class 2A state weightlifting competition at the Kissimmee Civic Center on Friday.

Fernandez, a senior heavyweight, enters the state competition with the sixth-best qualifying lift of 690 pounds. He is 40 pounds behind Zack Johnson of Spruce Creek (Port Orange).

Fernandez, who placed 13th at state last year, has improved his combined total by 50 pounds. It is a pretty impressive feat since he has been lifting all season with a fractured left wrist.

"It hurts a lot and it's been a struggle sometimes," Fernandez said. "The clean and jerk [lift] is the hardest because it hurts on the catch part of the clean, when my wrist is bent all the way back."

Fernandez sustained the fracture during football season and his coach, Justin Hilliker, said the Naval Academy commit told the doctor he didn't want a cast. Fernandez wears a brace all day and only removes it for training and competition.

Fernandez said he feels the adrenaline when his teammates are screaming for him.

"When my teammates are cheering me on it helps block out the pain," Fernandez said. "If I win a medal at states it would mean that all the sacrifice has paid off. It's what I've wanted to achieve since last year. It would satisfy me personally and help the team points total at states. It's the light at the end of the tunnel."

"Roman's effort has been great," said Hawks coach Justin Hilliker, whose eight lifters are tied with Spruce Creek for the most in the state. The Hawks won the state title in 2011. "It is pretty amazing he's benching 425-pounds on a broken wrist. At the beginning of the season I did not believe we would have this many lifters going to states. The overall team has exceeded my expectations."

Hilliker said Abyu Perez (129-pounds) has the best chance at winning a state title. Perez, a sophomore, is capable of a 500-pound total. He enters the state competition with a combined lift of 450 pounds, which is good enough for second best, 40-pounds behind Thomas Forte of Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach).

Seminole Ridge senior Robert Hildalgo (238-pounds) is also in the top five entering the state tournament. He has improved his total by 80 pounds during the season (660 pounds) and won the district competition by 105-pounds. He was 14th at state last year.

Jupiter and Park Vista each qualified four lifters for state, while Boca Raton and West Boca Raton will send two. Royal Palm Beach and Wellington each qualified one athlete.

Jupiter's Robert Hamm (119-pounds) enters the competition with a state-best lift of 410 pounds. The junior placed fifth at state last year. Jupiter senior James Rigby (183-pounds) is one of four athletes who have topped 600 pounds this year. He is 10 pounds behind state leaders Drew Clark (Columbia, Lake City) and Denzel Applewhite (Niceville).

"The team is very excited to be able to compete in the state finals again this year," said Park Vista coach Thadd Pokabla, whose team won its fourth consecutive district title. "The boys have worked very hard to earn their spots. They know the competition will be tough but are expecting to achieve new personal records to finish strong at states."